ENVIRONMENT

MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM (EMS)

UNIT-III
Introduction:

Environmental Management System is a method

through which organizations review and manage
their short and long-term impacts on environment
caused by their manufacturing process, products and
services.
EMS also involves evaluation of practices, process,
assignment of responsibility and allocation of
resources.
It includes development, implementation and
maintenance of environmental policies related with
environmental protection and constant
improvement.
Lack of EMS may lead to :
 Fines & penalties
 Disables administrative staff
 Loss of confidence of stakeholders
 Poor public image
Components of EMS

 Environmental Policy Statement

 Legal and other requirements
 Evaluation of Environmental Impacts and Opportunities for
Improvements
 Goals, Objectives, Targets and Management Programmes
 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency
 Communication to internal and external stakeholders
 Documentation and Record keeping
 Operational control
 Corrective and Preventive action
 Monitoring and Measurement
 EMS Auditing and Management Review
 Steps Involved in EMS
 EMS concept can be understood as an outcome of
quality improvement movement. An ISO 14001
develops a framework which helps various
organizations in improving their environmental
performances. It is the most popularly used framework
which help the organizations to manage their
environmental impacts.
The five main stages of an EMS, as defined by
the ISO 14001 standard, are described
below:
1. Environmental Policy
2. Planning
3. Implementation
4. Checking/Evaluation
5. Management Review
1. Environmental Policy: The first step of EMS is formulation
and development of strong environmental policies. Top
management of an organization formulates the policies.
The following point should be considered while making
policy
 Consider resources and constraints of an organization.
 Policy should be clear about its commitment regarding
continuous improvement of EMS.
 Policy must comply with environmental laws and
regulations
 The policy should be documented and provided to all
concerned stakeholders.
2. Planning: Planning is done to deal with all
environmental impacts of various activities,
products, process, services. Such planning is
executed at each managerial level.
This stage helps the organizations to identify their legal
and other requirements such as commitments made
by the organization in terms of manufacturing eco-
friendly products.
3. Implementation: Implementations of various policies,
planning of resources, roles and responsibilities, need of
training, awareness etc. In this step internal and external
methods and procedures of communication are
implemented.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: The fourth step of EMS
involves monitoring and evaluation of the various
operations and activities undertaken by the organization.
The environmental performance of the organizations as
well as functioning of EMS is evaluated and monitors.
In case of non-performance corrective and preventive actions
are taken. Monitoring also involves maintaining records
for this regular internal audit is done of whole
Environmental management system.
5. Management Review: The last step of EMS is
reviewing the system after the process of policy,
planning, implementation and monitoring EMS. In this
step organizations needs to review its performance
against set rules and standards.
Following issues are discussed in the review process:
Appropriateness of the environmental policy
Suggestions provided in Audit report
Any changes in regulations
Public awareness and pressures
Interest of the stakeholders
 ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ Model of continuous
Improvement
Planning includes identifying
environmental aspects and
establishing goals (Plan).

Implementing includes training

and operational controls (Do).

Checking, including monitoring

and corrective action (Check).

Reviewing includes progress

reviews and acting to incorporate
required changes in the EMS (Act).
 Objectives of EMS:

To meet the regulatory and legislative system

requirements.
To improve the control of the environmental impact.
To provide confidence to the customers that the
products and services are manufactured with the aim
of reducing the negative impact on the environment.
To suitably accommodate changing market trends and
gain competitive edge
To reduce the costs associated with environmental
liabilities and insurance.
To gain public and media support.
 Importance/Benefits of EMS

Compliance of Regulations: Enhanced compliance with

environmental legislation such as Clean water act, Clean
Air Act.
Public Health: EMS includes measures regarding public
health and safety such as formulating regulations to
prevent or eliminate the entry of toxic or harmful
substances in the environment.
Emergency Response Plans: It enables the organization
to respond efficiently and quickly in case of any
emergency or uncertainties.
 Reduced Costs: It emphasis on efficiently managing
critical issues, develops standard process and
appropriate trainings to employees. All these factors
help in reducing operating cost.
 Competitive Advantage: In some countries like Japan
and European Union, it is compulsory for the companies
to develop an EMS for conducting their business.
 Prevention of pollution/resource conservation.
 New customers/markets.
 Enhanced employee's morale.
 Improve company image in public, lenders, investors
etc.
EMS Standards/ Environmental
Standards in EMS

Some of the important environmental

standards in EMS are as follows:
1. BS 7750
2. Audit Scheme/Eco-Management and
Audit Scheme (EMAS)
3. ISO 14000
 BS 7750: British Standards Institute’s BS7750 Specification for
Environmental Management System has been derived from
former Management Quality System BS5750, which is the
world’s first eco-audit standard, established in 1992.
 In order to attain BS7750, the organizations are required to
establish environmental procedures, Environmental
protection system and insure its maintenance.
 BS7750 has following three basic elements:
 Environmental policy
 Documented EMS
 Record of environmental impacts
Audit Scheme/Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
(EMAS): EMAS is a voluntary EMS regulated under
European Union (EU). It has been designed for
allowing organizations and firms to manage, evaluate
and continuously improve their environmental
performances. EMAS provides a framework with the
help of which organization can develop an EMS,
analyze their environmental performance, gather
related information, measure achievements and
communicate the progress report to the external
stakeholders.
ISO 14000

ISO 14000 is a series of environmental management

standards developed and published by the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for
organizations and the certificate is ISO 14001 standard.
ISO was founded on 23rd Feb. 1947. It’s headquartered
is in Geneva. In 1996 the ISO created the ISO 14000
standards; this framework is the official international
standard for an EMS.
Prior to the development of the ISO 14000 series,
organizations voluntarily constructed their own EMS,
but this made comparisons of environmental effects
between companies more difficult; therefore, the
universal ISO 14000 series was developed.
ISO 14000 is a family of standards related
to environmental management that exists to help
organizations
(a) To minimize their operations (processes, etc.)
which negatively affects the environment e.g. air,
water, or land.
(b) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and
other environmentally oriented requirements.
(c) continuously improve in the above.
ISO 9001 is a Quality Management System (QMS) which gives
organizations a systematic approach for meeting customer
objectives.
ISO 14001 specifies the requirements of an environmental
management system (EMS) for small to large organizations.
 ISO is equivalent to BS7750 and EMAS but ISO14000 is more
user friendly and easier to understand and these standards are
updated regularly after fixed time periods.
 The Companies that adopt ISO standards may become certified
under ISO 14000 by paying a certification fee.
 Benefits of ISO 14000

Act as Proof: ISO 14001 certification provides proof

to national and international authorities & Investors.
Large industries require their trade partners to be
ISO 14001 accredited before they are prepared to
trade with them. Some tender and export also need
ISO14001 accreditation.
Effective Management Tool: An ISO based EMS is a
flexible and effective management tool that helps an
organization to manage its activities in line with legal,
society and customer requirements.
Facilitates International Communication:
Environmental responsibility benefits government by
establishing trust in the eyes of international
investors.
Enhance an Organization profile: An ISO listing can
enhance an organization public profile in today’s
environmentally aware climate. It has excellent
publicity value
Clearance/Permissions for Establishing
Industries
Introduction: All the industries which are covered
under the provisions of Water (Prevention and
control of Pollution) Act 1974, Air (Prevention
and control of Pollution) Act 1981, Hazardous
waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000,
Environmental protection Act 1986 are required
to obtain consent to establish any new
unit/expansion of existing unit.
EIA clearance is required for industries like mining,
thermal power plants, river valley, ports, airports,
atomic energy, transport etc. For some projects,
EIA is not needed.
Project Categories for Environmental Clearance

There are two categories of projects, based on which

clearance for establishing industries is given:
1. Category ‘A’: Project shall require prior
environmental clearance from the Central
Government in the Ministry of Environment and
Forest (MoEF) on the recommendations of an Expert
Appraisal Committee (EAC) to be constituted by the
central Govt.
2. Category ‘B’: It require prior approval from the
State/Union territory Environment Impact
Assessment Authority (SEIAA), on the
recommendation of a State/union territory level
Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) to be constituted
by the Central government.
In absence of SEIAA or SEAC a Category ‘B’ project will
be treated as Category ‘A’.
3. General Condition: if whole project or some part of
project is within 10km boundary of:
i. Protected areas under the wildlife (protection) Act
1972.
ii. Critically polluted areas as notified by the
Central/State Pollution Control Board
(CPCB/SPCB).
iii. Notified eco-sensitive area.
iv. Interstate boundaries and international
boundaries.
Process of Environmental Clearance
Stage 1: Site Selection: Project proponent
identifies the location of proposed plant after
ensuring compliance with existing siting
guidelines.
Stage 2: Conduct EIA: The project proponent
then assesses if the proposed activity/project
falls under the range of environmental
clearance. If it is mentioned in schedule of the
notification, the proponent conducts an EIA
study either directly or through a consultant.
Stage 3: Apply for NOC: After the EIA report is
ready, the investor approaches the concerned
State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and the State
Forest Department (if the location involves use of
forestland). The SPCB evaluates and assesses the
quantity and quality of effluents likely to be
generated by the proposed unit. If the SPCB is
satisfied that the proposed unit will meet all the
prescribed emissions standards, it issues consent
to establish (popularly known as NOC).
Stage 4: Public Hearing: The public hearing is a
mandatory step in the process of environmental
clearance for certain developmental projects. This
provides a legal space for people of an area to come
face-to-face with the project proponent or the
government. The process of public hearing is
conducted prior to the issue of NOC from SPCB. The
hearing committee hears the objections/
suggestions from the public and after inserting
certain clauses it is passed on to the next stage of
approval (Ministry of Environment and Forest).
Stage 5: Apply for Environmental
Clearance: The project proponent applies for
environmental clearance with the MoEF or the
state government. The application form is
submitted with EIA report, EMP, details of public
hearing and NOC granted by the state
regulators.
Stage 6: Environmental Appraisal: The
documents submitted by an investor are first
scrutinized by staff functioning in the Ministry of
Environment and Forests who may also undertake
site-visits wherever required.
After this preliminary scrutiny, the proposals are
placed before Environmental Appraisal
Committees.
Appraisal Committees make their
recommendations for approval or rejection
of projects. The recommendations of the
Committees are then processed in the Ministry of
Environment and Forests for approval or
rejection.
Stage 7: Issues of Clearance or Rejection
Letter: When a project requires both
environmental clearance as well as approval under
the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Proposals for
both are required to be given simultaneously to the
concerned divisions of the ministry. The processing
is done simultaneously for clearance/rejection,
although separate letters may be issued.
 Kyoto
Protocol
& Carbon
Credit
 Introduction:
 The Kyoto Protocol has created a mechanism under
which countries that have been emitting more carbon
and other greenhouse gases have voluntarily decided that
they will bring down the level of Carbon they are emitting to
the levels of early 1990s.
 The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan,
on 11th December 1997. However, it entered into force on
16th February 2005. The protocol was developed under
the UNFCCC - the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change.
 There are currently 192 parties (Canada withdrew from
the protocol, in December 2012) to the Protocol.
 The Kyoto Protocol applies to the six greenhouse gases:
 Carbon dioxide (CO2),
 Methane (CH4),
 Nitrous oxide (N2O),
 Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
 Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and
 Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
 The Protocol's first commitment period started in 2008 and
ended in 2012.
 A second commitment period was agreed in 2012, known as
the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, in which 37
countries have binding targets.
 CARBON CREDITS
 A carbon credit is a tradable permit or certificate that
provides the holder of the credit the right to emit one ton of
carbon dioxide or an equivalent of another greenhouse gas.
The main goal for the creation of carbon credits is the
reduction emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse
gases from industrial activities to reduce the effects of global
warming.
 Companies that achieve the carbon offsets (reducing the
emissions of greenhouse gases) are usually rewarded with
additional carbon credits.
 Example
An environmentalist group that works to reduce
greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, plants
enough trees to reduce emissions by one ton and is
awarded a credit.
If Another company is their e.g. Lakshmi Group, a
steel producer, has an emissions quota of 10 tons but
is expected to produce 11 tons, it can purchase the
carbon credit from the environmental group.
 Types of Carbon Credits
There are two types of credits:
 Certified emissions reduction (CER): Emission units
(or credits) created through a regulatory framework with
the purpose of offsetting a project’s emissions.
 Voluntary emissions reduction (VER): A carbon offset
that is exchanged in the over-the-counter or voluntary
market for credits.
 The main difference between the two is that there is
a third-party certifying body that regulates the CER as
opposed to the VER.
Thank you....